Suspect arrested in block-party slaying in Mariners Harbor section

Staten Island Advance/Michael OatesA man was arrested in connection with the homicide of a 39-year-old Timothy Browning yesterday morning. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An argument over a cigarette at a Mariners Harbor block party ended with a 39-year-old man dead on the ground of a bullet to the stomach and a suspect arrested later yesterday after he barricaded himself in an apartment.

Timothy Browning, of the 100 block of Brabant Street, was shot once at about 3 a.m. near the corner of Lockman Avenue and Brabant Street, within a few yards of his home.

About 12 hours later, police arrested a 20-year-old Mariners Harbor man suspected in the shooting after he’d barricaded himself and a 15-year-old teen inside an apartment in the Mariners Harbor Houses.

Jermaine Lewis, 20, of the 100 block of Continental Place, surrendered without incident after police called a Level 1 mobilization around 311 Grandview St. shortly after 2 p.m.

Staten Island Borough Commander Assistant Chief Stephen Paragallo said Lewis was not armed when he was taken into custody. The chief added that police searched the apartment after Lewis was taken out, but did not say whether a weapon was recovered.

Paragallo noted that the teen "acquaintance" who was in the apartment with Lewis was not arrested.

Browning attended a block party that stretched into the early-morning hours, a law enforcement source said. Although police were present for much of the party, the shooting happened as the group was breaking up to go home, the source said.

Browning’s sister, Bridgette Browning, said Lewisasked Browning for a cigarette and they quarreled.

She said Browning — a weightlifter nicknamed "Body Beautiful" and "The General" — could have overpowered the smaller Lewis, but Lewis pulled a gun and fired four shots.

"My brother would have demolished that kid," said Ms. Browning, of the 100 block of Brabant. "[Lewis] just bucked on him ... four times."

One of the shots found Browning’s torso, police said.

Browning, who is Staten Island’s third homicide victim this year, had a lengthy criminal record that includes two stints in state prison for robbery and drug dealing, was most recently paroled in January, according to state Correctional Department records.

He was also the victim of past gun violence, according to Advance records.

Browning was shot in May 1994 while he stood in front of 151 Jersey St. in New Brighton. Back then, an assailant fired multiple shots from a semiautomatic firearm, and one bullet hit Browning, grazing his leg.

Lewis was known on the streets as "Wild Blood," according to Ms. Browning.

He was paroled in January after serving two years in state prison on a pair of separate 2007 robbery convictions that resulted in concurrent time.

Lewis was taken to the 120th Police Precinct in St. George for questioning. He had yet to be charged as of early evening yesterday, a police spokesman said.

With John Annese

Police Standoff in Mariners Harbor

Police Standoff in Mariners Harbor20 year-old suspect Jermaine Lewis barricades himself in side his Mariners Harbor apartment hours after allegedly shooting a man over a cigarette. Monday May 17 2010.